Irish training legend Aidan O’Brien is taking another shot at Breeders’ Cup glory, placing his faith in the electrifying three-year-old City of Troy to finally capture the elusive $7 million Classic. Despite 17 previous contenders and two close second-place finishes, the top prize has evaded O’Brien—until, he hopes, now.
City of Troy, sired by 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify, has dominated European grass tracks and now faces the challenge of adapting to Del Mar’s swift Southern California dirt. A 5-2 favorite, City of Troy’s high cruising speed and fierce drive make him O’Brien’s best hope yet. “He’s always shown incredible courage and tactical speed,” O’Brien shared confidently.
City of Troy will break from post position three, a potentially tricky start where jockey Ryan Moore must avoid early crowding. Meanwhile, Fierceness, a 3-1 rival known for explosive gate speed, holds an advantageous outside position. After a stunning 13-1/2 length win at the Florida Derby and a thrilling Travers Stakes victory, Fierceness poses a serious threat.
Third favorite Forever Young (6-1), a Japanese star and Saudi/UAE Derby winner, drew the rail and will look to redeem himself after a tough Kentucky Derby finish, where second-place Sierra Leone bumped him in the stretch. Sierra Leone enters the race as a 12-1 underdog but can’t be underestimated.
The Breeders’ Cup, North America’s richest horse race, features 14 races over two days, with the Classic crowning the weekend. The outcome will be key for the year-end Horse of the Year award—could City of Troy be the one to break O’Brien’s spell and make history
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